High School Football Playoffs Heat Up in Cincinnati

Cincinnati is bracing for an exciting week as the high school football postseason enters Week 13. With 19 matchups scheduled across the region, fans are eager to see which teams will advance. The postseason format varies depending on the state, with Ohio games shifting to neutral venues for the regional semifinals, while Kentucky teams will play at the higher district seed’s home field.

One of the most anticipated matchups this week features the historic rivalry between Moeller Crusaders and Princeton Vikings. The top-seeded Crusaders, currently at 11-1, will face the fourth-seeded Vikings, who are 10-2. This game marks their first playoff meeting since 2021, where Moeller edged out Princeton, 28-21. Princeton is riding a six-game winning streak and has demonstrated resilience after their earlier loss to Moeller, where they fell 38-21 in September. The Crusaders have been dominant, scoring an average of 57 points in their recent games, and prediction experts favor them to win 34-17.

Another thrilling clash is set between the Lakota West Firebirds, the 2nd seed with an 11-1 record, and the 6th seeded St. Xavier Bombers, sporting a 9-3 record. This rivalry also has playoff history, with both teams having split their previous meetings. With the Firebirds having the upper hand offensively in recent games, they are predicted to edge out the Bombers, 21-17.

In Anderson, the Raptors, the top seed at 12-0, will go head-to-head with the Fighting Owls from Mt. Healthy (10-2). Anderson boasts an impressive offense averaging 51 points per game, while Mt. Healthy has shown some vulnerability against top defenses. Experts favor Anderson with a predicted score of 44-20.

The upsets of last week have changed the dynamics in Region 16 dramatically. The 10-seed Alter Knights will face off against the 6-seed Taylor Yellowjackets in a rematch of a regular-season game, now filled with high stakes following their upsets. Alter’s stout defense has limited opponents significantly, which leads many to predict a close win for them, 21-20.

As the playoffs continue, the excitement and anticipation can be felt throughout Cincinnati. Each game brings a new chance for teams to either extend their season or end it, creating an electric atmosphere across the fields.